Planta Med 2013; 79 - PN28
DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1352371

Cytotoxic activity of Enterolobium contortisiliquum fruit

S ElSouda 1, AA Matloub 2, S Halouty 2
  • 1National Research Center, Chemistry of Natural Product, Giza Egypt.
  • 2National Research Center, Pharmacognosy, Giza Egypt.

Cancer is a public health problem worldwide. According to WHO, 20 million people in the world suffer from cancer, a figure projected to rise to 30 million within 20 years. Cancer causes 7.1 million deaths annually (12.6% of the global total) (WHO, 2004).

Enterolobium contortisiliquum (Vell.) Morong (Leguminosae) is a tree belonging to the Mimosoideae subfamily and widely populated in Egypt.

The phytochemical study of Enterolobium contortisiliquum fruit revealed the presence carbohydrate/or glycosides, triterpenes/or sterols, saponins, flavonoids and protein. The mucilage, lipoidal matter, saponin and protein fractions were isolated from Enterolobium contortisiliquum fruit and their chemical profile was identified using GLC, GC/MS and amino acid analyzer.

Cytotoxic activity of the isolated extracts as well as the crude extract (70% alcohol) have been carried out in vitro on HepG-2, MCF-7, and A549 human cell lines according to Mosmann, (1983). The obtained cytoxicity screening proved that the tested extracts have various cytotoxic activities.